Chabad of Clearwater To Light Up One of 10,000 Public Menorahs Worldwide, Symbolizing Universal Message of Religious Freedom

WHAT:

Chabad of Clearwater will ignite the first ever Bagel menorah in the USA, followed by a community-wide celebration on the fourth night of Chanukah, which falls out on Tuesday, Dec. 11.

Mr. Howard Shapiro opened a recent article on the Forward.com with the following, "The humble bagel is a staple of Western Jewish culture."

At Chabad of Clearwater we believe that to be true and in honor of the holiday of Chanukah we will be bringing the Bagel to new heights. The heights of the Menorah!

Always looking for unique, exciting and creative ideas, on Dec. 11 at 6 p.m., Chabad of Clearwater will this year light a 7-foot-tall Bagel Menorah on the Beachwalk in front of the Surf Style Mega Store at 311 S. Gulfview Blvd in Clearwater. Based on our research, it is believed to be the first ever Bagel Menorah in the United States!

Following the menorah lighting ceremony, hundreds will dance, sing and eat the night away. Delicious donuts, hot latkes, Dreidels and Chocolate Chanukah gelt will be distributed to all. There will also be a special performance by the famous "Dallas The Fire Guy".

"This promises to be a Chanukah event that will be remembered for a long, long time by children and adults alike." said Rabbi Levi Hodakov, Director of Chabad of Clearwater.

The event is FREE of charge and open to the entire community.

The public menorah lighting is being organized by Rabbi Levi Hodakov, Director of Chabad of Clearwater, who remarked, “The Menorah serves as a symbol of Clearwater's dedication to preserve and encourage the right and liberty of all its citizens to worship G-d freely, openly, and with pride. Specifically in America, a nation that was founded upon and vigorously protects the right of every person to practice his or her religion free from restraint and persecution, the Menorah takes on profound significance, embodying both religious and constitutional principles.”

Clearwater Beach's menorah is one of thousands of large public menorahs sponsored by Chabad throughout the world, helping children and adults of all walks of life discover and enjoy the holiday message.

Throughout the State of Florida, Chabad will be presenting scores of Chanukah events and celebrations, including public menorah lightings, giant menorahs made out of ice and Legos, Menorah Parades, Latkes parties, Giant Dreidel Houses,“Chanukah Wonderlands” and more. 

For more information about Chanukah - which will get underway this year on Saturday night December 8th 2012 - and a local schedule of events visit www.JewishClearwater.com/Chanukah.

GREAT PHOTO AND VIDEO OPPS!!

EVENT RECAP

WHAT: Grand Bagel Menorah lighting and family Chanukah Celebration

WHEN: 6 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 12

WHERE: In front of Surf Style Mega Store - 311 S Gulfview Blvd, Clearwater Beach

FREE PARKING: Will be available for those attending the event in the Surf Style parking lot

WHY: Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, recalls the victory more than 2,100 years ago of a militarily weak but spiritually strong Jewish people who defeated a ruthless enemy that had overrun ancient Israel and sought to impose restrictions on the Jewish way of life, prohibit religious freedom and force the Jewish people to accept a foreign religion. During the occupation of Jerusalem and the Temple, the Syrian Greeks desecrated and defiled the oils prepared for the lighting of the Menorah, which was part of the daily service in the temple. Upon recapturing the Temple from the Syrian Greeks, the Jewish people found only one jar of undefiled oil, enough to burn only one day, but it lasted miraculously for eight days until new, pure olive oil was produced. In commemoration of this event, the Jewish people celebrate Chanukah for eight days by lighting an eight-branched candelabra known as a Menorah. The Menorah is placed in highly-visible place to publicize the miracle, with its message of hope and religious freedom, to all. Today, people of all faiths consider the Chanukah holiday as a symbol and message of the triumph of freedom over oppression, of spirit over matter, of light over darkness.